Category: Consequence

In reading 2 Chronicles 12, we note a particular response of God to the unfaithfulness of King Rehoboam.  The chronicler wrote that it happened in the fifth year of the king (2).  Shishak, the king of Egypt waged war against Rehoboam at Jerusalem.  The scripture states clearly that such a challenge came “because they had transgressed against the Lord.”

The challenge was great: 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and “people without number who came with him out of Egypt” (3).  The challenge was succeeding as the fortified cities of Judah were taken and Jerusalem was threatened.  Shemaiah, a prophet of God, told Rehoboam the reason for the threat. “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak’” (5).

This declaration brought repentance.  “So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, ‘The LORD is righteous’” (6).  One might think that this repentance (which of course led to the return of God’s favor), was enough to change the course of events.  And it did.  When God witnessed the repentance of Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel, He granted deliverance.  But, the deliverance on this occasion was not total.  Consider the words of verses 7-8: “Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, ‘They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.’” Continue reading “Nevertheless” →